Tunbridge Wells

Tunbridge Wells' population expanded in the 10 years leading up to 2011. At the same time there were changes in housing tenure.

The population reached nearly 120,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Tunbridge Wells increased by 11%, from just over 104,000 to 115,000.

The addition of just over 11,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Tunbridge Wells was home to, on average, 2.5 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Tunbridge Wells

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Tunbridge Wells increased by one year, from 39 to 40 years.

This growing rural area had a slightly higher average age than the South East and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 3,800 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 800.

About 16% of people in Tunbridge Wells are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Tunbridge Wells by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Tunbridge Wells

The percentage of Tunbridge Wells residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 91% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.6%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.0% in 2001. The percentage of Tunbridge Wells residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 91% in 2001 to 90% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 90%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Tunbridge Wells at a faster rate than in Tonbridge and Malling (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Tunbridge Wells).

In Tunbridge Wells, the proportion of private renting increased from 11% in 2001 to 17% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Tonbridge and Malling increased from 6.0% to 10%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10% to 16%.

The rate of social housing in Tunbridge Wells fell from 16% to 15%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 71% to 66%.

Private renting in Tunbridge Wells increased by 6.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Tunbridge Wells, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Tunbridge Wells residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.6% to 3.9% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (85%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 73% in 2001. The percentage of Tunbridge Wells residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20% to 11%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Tunbridge Wells decreased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Tunbridge Wells, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Tunbridge Wells, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 9.1% to 11% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage that had only one person remained close to 29%, while the percentage of households in Tunbridge Wells which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 40% to 37%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.7% in 2001 to 9.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

The percentage of adults in Tunbridge Wells that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 10% to 12% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (50%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 54% in 2001. The percentage of single people in Tunbridge Wells increased from 28% to 31%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 11% in 2001 to 12% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 11% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Tunbridge Wells residents that were unemployed increased from 1.9% to 3.0% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in two (54%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 55% in 2001. The percentage of Tunbridge Wells residents that were self-employed increased from 12% to 14%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Tunbridge Wells increased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Tunbridge Wells, the South East and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Tunbridge Wells without children decreased from 62% to 61% between the last two censuses.

The percentage that had at least one dependent child remained close to 30%, while the percentage of households in Tunbridge Wells with only adult children living with their parents increased from 8.5% to 9.0%.

The proportion of households without children fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (which remained close to 62%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 61%.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in work hours

The percentage of employed people in Tunbridge Wells working less than 16 hours increased from 2.2% to 2.9% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in eight (13%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 16% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.1% in 2001 to 3.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Tunbridge Wells residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.3% to 1.7% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.7%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 1.7% in 2001 to 2.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Tunbridge Wells remained close to 1.7%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Tunbridge Wells by care, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links